AUGUSTA — House Speaker Mark Eves said Monday that he will attempt to move the state budget forward this week by calling for a vote on a compromise budget bill. Eves spokeswoman Jodi Quintero said in communications with reporters on Monday that amendments to the budget are being drafted by the Revisor of Statutes office […]
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Posted inMaine
Maine Democrats block right-to-work bill in the House
AUGUSTA, Maine — The House of Representatives on Friday defeated the latest bill designed to make Maine a “right-to-work” state. The bill, LD 489, was defeated in a 90-52 vote, with a handful of Republicans joining majority Democrats in rejecting the bill. It was the latest effort by State House Republicans to weaken unions by preventing […]
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LePage renews push to end Maine’s ‘death tax’
AUGUSTA — As the top party officials at the State House continued their ongoing negotiations on a two-year budget for Maine, Republican Gov. Paul LePage on Friday renewed his push to do away with the state’s estate tax. LePage and his conservative allies call the tax paid on inheritances valued at over $2 million a “death […]
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Lawmakers send puppy sales bill to Paul LePage
AUGUSTA — Lawmakers have sent a bill to Gov. Paul LePage’s desk that would prohibit new pet shops in Maine from selling dogs and cats born in out-of-state breeding operations. The Republican-controlled Senate voted 21-14 to give the bill final approval on Thursday. Under the bill, new pet shops would only be able to sell […]
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Democrats, Republicans blame each other for failed budget talks
AUGUSTA — Less than 24 hours after a budget deal seemed nearly complete, the path toward a compromise in the divided Legislature was foggier than ever, once again raising the likelihood of a government shutdown. A two-year, $6.7 billion spending plan passed with bipartisan support in the budget-writing Appropriations Committee last weekend but did not […]
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Legislative leaders break off Maine budget talks
AUGUSTA — Negotiations between Maine legislative leaders over the state budget ended abruptly on Wednesday, with both sides blaming each other for the breakdown that could lead to a state government shutdown if a deal remains elusive at the end of the month. The leaders of the House and Senate have been meeting behind closed doors […]
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LePage wants to use timber revenue as heating aid for low-income households
AUGUSTA — Maine Governor Paul LePage says he wants to use surplus revenue from timber harvests on public lands to defray heating costs for low-income residents. The state’s Public Reserved Lands Management Fund receives revenue from the sale of timber from public lands. LePage says the fund has a balance of about $8 million because […]
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Maine cold case squad loses LePage’s support
AUGUSTA — Gov. Paul LePage withdrew his support for the state’s first cold case squad Tuesday because the bill funding it doesn’t include money for all the new state narcotics agents he sought. “This is what’s important: The state of Maine is currently losing on average one overdose a day and three babies addicted to […]
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Budget deal with lower income tax, higher sales taxes seems near
AUGUSTA — Top legislators are working feverishly behind closed doors on a budget deal that would include broad income tax cuts and an expansion and increase in the sales tax. A document obtained by the Bangor Daily News on Tuesday outlined several pieces of a tax reform plan being considered by leadership in the House […]
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Key to jail funding eludes lawmakers
AUGUSTA — A final fix to problems with the way the state helps fund county jails could be put off for another year, according to lawmakers who said Tuesday neither of a pair of bills that could settle the matter will gain the support of Republican Gov. Paul LePage. “Our bills, no matter which one passes, […]